kknight Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I have a Coralife Refugium light that is a year old. Do I need to change the bulbs before they burn out ? It came with 10,000 6 wt t5 and Actinic 6 wt t5 bulb. The light sits on a Aqueon sump. I run the light 12 hours per day Thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 not quite an expert, but I'd say it depends on what you're doing it for. if you're growing macro (chaeto or caulerpa or something), then you probably don't, maybe every 2 years at most would be my thought. Also, if it's for macro, that actinic isn't doing much, I would replace it with a 6500K-10000K bulb. that said, if you're wanting to grow corals/etc in there, then my answers would change completely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 What he said (laugh) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kknight Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Thanks . It is just for mico alge . I'll change the other bulb. My cheato does not do that great and could'nt figure out why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I'd shoot for a 6500K bulb, they're closest to the sun's light and should be best for chaeto growth. Also, a boring CFL 'daylight' bulb from HD does pretty well, I'll be lighting my sump/fuge with two 27w CFL ("100w equivalent") bulbs in clamp lights. bulbs are about $10/pair and the clamp lights cheap too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPaquatics Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I like the clamp lamps for fuges...usually you dont really show them off anyways...there is a bulb that similates natural sunlight...a little better than the softwhites or "daylights." Most bulbs you get for home use are anywhere from 3-5k. I think these are around 5600. I have used them personally and they crank out chaeto http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202184509/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=ecosmart+sunlight&storeId=10051 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 good find, Mike. Just did a web search, found this 42-watter that's listed as 6500K (ideal for macro): http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100661903/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=daylight+CFL&storeId=10051 as a side note, the idea is that most corals actually grow better in 6500K light than the higher spectrums we usually run. They don't look as pretty, but they grow better. so I'm thinking I'll try putting some frags in my fuge to see how they do (guard them from getting the macro's shade). I figure I can move them to blue-er lighting once they're the size I want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kknight Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 I'd shoot for a 6500K bulb, they're closest to the sun's light and should be best for chaeto growth. Also, a boring CFL 'daylight' bulb from HD does pretty well, I'll be lighting my sump/fuge with two 27w CFL ("100w equivalent") bulbs in clamp lights. bulbs are about $10/pair and the clamp lights cheap too... I wish we would of know of this site before I purchased a bunch of fancy equipment. We were new and went to Wet Pets , they said get this and we said okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 you might be able to sell that coralife fixture for a small chunk of money to a nano-tank person...all hope is not lost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 i use a 5500k 24 inch standard fluorescent...havent changed the bulb in 2 years. maybe i should do that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kknight Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 thanks I might do that . They do not make a 6500k for the coralife mini . Just 10,000 and Actinic....... But then again I could get an nano (whistle) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 thanks I might do that . They do not make a 6500k for the coralife mini . Just 10' date='000 and Actinic....... But then again I could get an nano (whistle)[/quote'] Do it! LOL. Maybe a coldwater nano (naughty) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kknight Posted March 31, 2012 Author Share Posted March 31, 2012 Do it! LOL. Maybe a coldwater nano (naughty) Ummmmmmm no (nutty) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPaquatics Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 as a side note, the idea is that most corals actually grow better in 6500K light than the higher spectrums we usually run. They don't look as pretty, but they grow better. so I'm thinking I'll try putting some frags in my fuge to see how they do (guard them from getting the macro's shade). I figure I can move them to blue-er lighting once they're the size I want? This is true. It also has to do with intensity. You will almost always see more PAR and lumens from a lesser kelvin rating of the same wattage. For example, take 250 watt halides. I bet a 6500k is close to double the intensity of a 20k. Green houses get a similar effect with winter/summer shifts. I would guess though that the accelerated growth you get in lower kelvins will be cancelled out by the adjustment time/energy needed to switch to higher kelvins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kknight Posted March 31, 2012 Author Share Posted March 31, 2012 Would it be okay if I used 2 - 10,000 k bulbs ? The light fixture fits really nice on the top of my sump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPaquatics Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Yeah that should be fine. But i think that bulb is close to what a clamp lamp and bulb would be. Just depends what you want to look at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kknight Posted March 31, 2012 Author Share Posted March 31, 2012 It is just for the refugium. I have a aqueon sump so it has a top that the light sits on. If I did just a clamp bulb would I take the top off ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 what fixture would you use for those bulb MVP, does homedepot sell one that will clamp on to stand or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 I run 4 6500k compact floresent spiral type bulbs, all wired together with seperate switches. I also run my fuge lights about 16 hours a day. And macros grow like crazy in there. The only place i have seen the 6500k bulbs was at Bi-Mart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPaquatics Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Yeah home depot has clamp lamps. They are the cheapest. Then pet stores have black ones that are more expensive but a little more stylin' lol. I would either take the lid off or clamp it above it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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